Anastasios Karakasis is a Master Sommelier with an international career shaped by his Greek roots and a deep connection to hospitality. His journey has taken him from Greece and Cyprus to Turkey, and for the past several years, London, where he has led wine programs for some of the UK’s most renowned restaurants, including The Carlton Club, Marcus Wareing, Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, and Bacchanalia. He currently heads the wine program at Lilibet’s Mayfair. Known for crafting wine lists that tell a story, Anastasios is equally passionate about mentoring teams and creating meaningful wine experiences that connect people, place, and purpose. Anastasios brings a clear, international perspective to the London Wine Competition judging panel.

His approach to wine is grounded in precision, balance, and authenticity. With extensive experience working across different markets and wine cultures, Anastasios understands not only what makes a wine technically sound, but what allows it to succeed commercially in competitive on-trade settings.

What inspired your journey into wine?

Since childhood, I’ve been surrounded by people making and drinking wine, sparking my curiosity for the craft behind it. Working in hospitality deepened this passion—especially the magical interaction between chefs and sommeliers. Inspired by the precision and elegance of Michelin-starred restaurants. The pursuit of becoming a Master Sommelier was driven by a desire for excellence and continuous learning.

Favourite UK restaurant to enjoy wine

Milos London, I love fish and seafood, and this restaurant reminds me of Greek food and great Greek wines 

Favourite UK wine shop

When purchasing wine in the UK, Anastasios values merchants with strong fundamentals, knowledgeable teams, and serious curation. He often turns to Hedonism Wines, one of Britain’s most respected wine merchants, known for its depth of selection and long-standing producer relationships.

What is your go-to wine under £20?

Kydonitsa Mature Tsimpidi, Monemvasia Winery.

Which wine region do you think is underrated?

Ribeiro, Vinho Verde, Greece. Beyond its growing international reputation, many Greek regions still offer exceptional wines with strong identity, balance, and food-friendliness, yet remain underrepresented on global wine lists.

What wine trend are you most excited about for 2026?

I'm enjoying that people now go more and more for lost/ forgotten grapes or regions.

From a judge’s perspective, what makes the London Wine Competition stand out?

The London Wine Competition stands out because it evaluates wines based on how they perform in real buying and consumption scenarios. The wines must be judged by people from the wine industry. Buyers, sommeliers. Professionals with knowledge, experience, and the feeling of the market.

One piece of advice you’d give wineries entering the London Wine Competition

Enter wines that truly represent your estate and your philosophy. We'd love to taste and judge the wines. At the end, this gives us the opportunity to taste wines that maybe we do not have the time to taste or the chance to know about their wines.

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Closing paragraph

Having your wines judged by Anastasios Karakasis, Master Sommelier, means presenting your wines to a judge whose standards are shaped by global benchmarks and real on-trade demands. Anastasios’ evaluation signals to producers, importers, and buyers that a wine is not only technically sound but balanced, authentic, and capable of performing successfully in competitive international markets.

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